Court Report

Associate Justice Lyle L Richmond sentenced Folasa Galea’i to two years probation and to pay a fine of $1,000. Folasa of Leone was initially charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine with intent to distribute and unlawful possession of a controlled substance, marijuana, with intent to distribute. However in a plea deal with the government, Galea’i pled guilty to conspiracy to commit the offense of unlawful possession, a misdemeanor which was amended from one of the felony charges, while the other count was dismissed.

Richmond sentenced the defendant to two years probation, ordered him to pay the $1,000 fine and for Galea’i to remain a law abiding citizen. According to the government’s case, the defendant claimed a package that contained a variety of snacks and some canned foods, and when Customs Agents removed the items from the box, they also came across cans of whole tomatoes, which they noticed were unusually lightweight.

Court documents say that’s when the K9 unit was called for assistance.

Customs agents opened the tomato cans that were labeled with numbers and each can contained sealed plastic Baggies containing a green leafy substance, which appeared to be marijuana. The customs agents also opened the cans that were labeled “clear” and each can contained sealed plastic Baggies with a white crystalline substance inside that appeared to be methamphetamine.

When police arrived the defendant told them the box belonged to his uncle, but he refused to reveal his uncle’s name.

The substances found in the package tested positive as methamphetamine and marijuana.

MARK MULIPOLA CASE SET FOR JURY TRIAL

A man from Malaeimi who allegedly struck his father with a machete has asked the court for a jury trial. Mulipola was in court for his pre-trial conference when he asked for a jury trial date. Chief Justice Michael Kruse set this matter for October 6, 2014.

According to court filings, police received a call from a resident in Malaeimi, who lives near the area where the incident occurred, requesting assistance and asking for Emergency Medical Services.

Court filings allege the defendant struck his father on the head, back and his left arm, with a machete. The father was admitted to the LBJ surgical ward, following emergency operations conducted due to the severity of his injuries.

VIOLET ADAMS TO SIGN PLEA DEAL

A woman facing embezzlement charges on allegations she misappropriated money from her former employer, FJ&P Kruse Inc, to the tune of over $5,000 is to sign a plea deal offer from the government, according to her attorney Mark Ude. The defendant was not in court yesterday morning when her case was called, however Ude informed the court the defendant will take the plea, however she’s currently undergoing an operation at the hospital.

The incident came to light when it was reported to police by the store’s warehouse manager about an alleged embezzlement on March 25, 2013. The police met with the FJ&P Kruse Wholesale Manager where the manager informed police the defendant had collected payments for FJ&P Kruse as part of her job, however instead of turning the money over to the store, she kept it for her personal use.

Court filings say the defendant has already paid back $1,000 towards the money she took. Prosecuting for the government is Assistant Attorney General Tiffany Oldfield.

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